Features and apps
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Useful List
Written by Windows 11 Field Guide Editorial Team · Updated
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts save more time than almost any setting you can change. A few seconds saved every time you switch windows, take a screenshot or open File Explorer adds up quickly over a working week. The problem is that most lists online mix in shortcuts that only worked in Windows 7, belong to a specific app, or were never real.
Every shortcut in the tables below comes from Microsoft’s own “Keyboard shortcuts in Windows” support page, which lists the default shortcuts for Windows 11. We have grouped them by task and left out obscure ones such as input method editor and Mixed Reality shortcuts. Apps can override some defaults, so if one does not work in a particular program, try it on the desktop first.
The ten shortcuts to learn first
If you learn nothing else, learn these. They cover the actions most people do dozens of times a day.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+E | Open File Explorer |
| Win+I | Open Settings |
| Win+L | Lock the PC |
| Win+D | Show and hide the desktop |
| Win+V | Open clipboard history |
| Win+Z | Open Snap layouts |
| Win+Tab | Open Task view |
| Win+Shift+S | Select a region of the screen and copy a screenshot to the clipboard |
| Alt+Tab | Switch between open windows |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager |
Clipboard history is off by default. The first time you press Win+V, Windows asks whether to turn it on; you can also switch it on in Settings > System > Clipboard.
Windows key shortcuts
The Windows key opens or closes Start on its own. Combined with other keys, it opens most of Windows 11’s built-in panels.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+A | Open the action center (Quick Settings) |
| Win+N | Open the notification center and calendar |
| Win+W | Open Widgets |
| Win+S or Win+Q | Open search |
| Win+R | Open the Run dialog box |
| Win+X | Open the Quick Link menu (same as right-clicking Start) |
| Win+C | Open Copilot; opens Windows search if Copilot is not available or disabled |
| Win+H | Open voice dictation |
| Win+K | Open Cast in Quick Settings to connect to a wireless display |
| Win+P | Choose a presentation display mode |
| Win+Period (.) or Win+Semicolon (;) | Open the emoji panel |
| Win+Pause | Open Settings > System > About |
| Win+U | Open Settings > Accessibility |
| Win+F | Open Feedback Hub |
| Win+Ctrl+Q | Open Quick Assist |
| Win+Ctrl+V | Open the sound output page of Quick Settings |
| Win+Alt+B | Turn HDR on or off |
| Win+Alt+K | Mute or unmute the microphone in supported apps |
| Win+G | Open Xbox Game Bar |
| Win+J | Open Recall, on devices that meet its requirements |
Win+J only does something on PCs that meet Recall’s hardware requirements, which Microsoft limits to Copilot+ PCs. You can change what Win+C and the Copilot key do in Settings > Personalization > Text input. For more on these panels, see the Windows 11 features hub.
Windows, Snap and multiple monitors
These shortcuts move and arrange windows. They work alongside Snap layouts, which our productivity hub covers in more detail.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+Z | Open Snap layouts |
| Win+Left arrow / Right arrow | Snap the window to the left or right side of the screen |
| Win+Alt+Up arrow / Down arrow | Snap the window to the top or bottom half of the screen |
| Win+Up arrow | Maximise the active window |
| Win+Down arrow | Minimise the active window |
| Win+Shift+Down arrow | Restore a snapped or maximised window |
| Win+Shift+Up arrow | Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen |
| Win+Shift+Left arrow / Right arrow | Move the active window to the monitor on the left or right |
| Win+M | Minimise all windows |
| Win+Shift+M | Restore minimised windows |
| Win+Home | Minimise or restore all windows except the active one |
| Win+Comma (,) | Peek at the desktop |
| Alt+Tab | Switch between open windows |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Show open apps and switch with the arrow keys |
| Alt+F4 | Close the active window, or open the shut down dialog on the desktop |
If you use more than one display, our multiple monitors guide explains how to arrange them so the move-to-monitor shortcuts go where you expect.
Virtual desktops
Virtual desktops let you keep separate sets of windows. Microsoft lists these shortcuts:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+Tab | Open Task view |
| Win+Ctrl+D | Create another desktop |
| Win+Ctrl+Right arrow | Switch to the desktop on the right |
| Win+Ctrl+Left arrow | Switch to the desktop on the left |
| Win+Ctrl+F4 | Close the desktop you are using |
Screenshots and screen recording
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+Shift+S | Select a region and copy a screenshot to the clipboard |
| Print Screen | By default, select a region to capture (same as Win+Shift+S) |
| Win+Print Screen | Save a full-screen screenshot to Pictures > Screenshots |
| Alt+Print Screen | Copy a screenshot of the active window to the clipboard |
| Win+Shift+R | Select a region to record; saved as MP4 in Videos > Screen Recordings |
You can turn off the Print Screen behaviour in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard by switching off Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping. Our Snipping Tool guide covers modes, markup and Text actions.
File Explorer
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl+W | Close the active tab |
| Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Next or previous tab |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new window |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Create a new folder |
| Ctrl+L or Alt+D | Go to the address bar |
| Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F | Select the search box |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| Alt+Enter | Show properties for the selected item |
| Alt+P | Show or hide the preview pane |
| Alt+Shift+P | Show or hide the details pane |
| Alt+Up arrow | Go up one folder level |
| Alt+Left arrow / Right arrow | Go back or forward |
| Ctrl+Shift+Number (1-9) | Change view; for example 6 is Details |
| Ctrl+D or Delete | Move the selected item to the Recycle Bin |
| Shift+Delete | Delete permanently without the Recycle Bin |
| Shift+F10 | Open the context menu for the selected item |
Be careful with Shift+Delete: the item skips the Recycle Bin. If File Explorer feels sluggish, see File Explorer slow.
Text editing
These work in most text boxes and editors, though Microsoft notes that apps can change them.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+C / Ctrl+X / Ctrl+V | Copy, cut, paste |
| Ctrl+Shift+V | Paste as plain text (not supported in every app) |
| Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | Undo, redo |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H | Find, find and replace |
| Ctrl+Left arrow / Right arrow | Move one word left or right |
| Ctrl+Backspace / Ctrl+Del | Delete the word to the left or right |
| Shift+Home / Shift+End | Select to the start or end of the line |
| Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+End | Go to the start or end of the document |
Taskbar
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win+Number (1-9) | Open or switch to the app pinned at that position on the taskbar |
| Win+Shift+Number | Start a new instance of that pinned app |
| Win+Alt+Number | Open the jump list for that pinned app |
| Win+T | Cycle through apps on the taskbar |
| Win+B | Focus the first icon in the notification area |
| Ctrl+Shift+click an app icon | Open the app as an administrator |
| Shift+click an app icon | Open another instance of the app |
System and accessibility
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Alt+Del | Open the security screen (lock, switch user, sign out, Task Manager) |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager |
| Win+Ctrl+Enter | Open Narrator |
| Win+Plus (+) / Win+Minus (-) | Zoom in or out with Magnifier |
| Win+Esc | Close Magnifier |
| Win+Ctrl+C | Turn colour filters on or off, if enabled in Settings |
| Win+Ctrl+Shift+B | Wake the device when the screen is blank or black |
| Win+Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
Win+Ctrl+Shift+B is worth remembering: if your screen goes black after a driver update or while gaming, it can bring the display back without a restart. If that does not help, see our graphics drivers guide.
For the tab shortcuts in File Explorer, such as Ctrl+T and Ctrl+W, see File Explorer tabs in Windows 11, and to switch keyboard layouts with Windows key + Spacebar, see change keyboard language in Windows 11.
Windows key + H starts dictation; see voice typing in Windows 11 for the commands it understands.
Windows key + period opens the emoji panel; our Windows 11 emoji panel guide covers GIFs, kaomoji and symbols.
Frequently asked questions
What does Win+C do in Windows 11?
Microsoft lists Win+C as opening Copilot. If Copilot is not available or is disabled, it opens Windows search instead. You can change the behaviour in Settings > Personalization > Text input.
What is the shortcut for clipboard history?
Win+V. Clipboard history is off by default, so the first time you press it Windows asks whether to turn it on.
How do I take a screenshot with the keyboard in Windows 11?
Win+Shift+S lets you select a region and copies it to the clipboard. Win+Print Screen saves a full-screen screenshot to the Screenshots folder in Pictures.
What is the shortcut to open Task Manager?
Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager directly. Ctrl+Alt+Del opens the security screen, which also has a Task Manager option.
Why does a shortcut not work in one app?
Microsoft notes that some apps change or override default shortcuts. For example, Ctrl+Shift+V to paste as plain text may not work in every app.
Sources
Windows 11 Field Guide Editorial Team
Editorial team
The Windows 11 Field Guide team writes and updates independent Windows 11 guides and checks each step against Microsoft's documentation and the current Settings app.
